Defending champions RSSB Tigers face Rwanda Energy Group (REG) at Lycée de Kigali on Friday, October 9, in the opening match of the 2026 Rwanda Cup. APR BBC and United Generation (UGB) will play in the second game at 6 p.m., with the four clubs confirmed as this year's participants.
Tigers lifted the 2025 trophy by beating REG 83–77 in the final, the same opponents they now meet in the curtain-raiser. Their success earned them Rwanda's ticket to the 2026 Basketball Africa League after league champions APR withdrew from the continental competition. Tigers went on to win the BAL qualifying tournament held in Kigali.
The Rwanda Basketball Federation introduced the Rwanda Cup in 2024 to expand the number of competitions and opportunities available to teams and players. APR BBC won the inaugural men's title.
The tournament winners will face the league champions in the Super Cup, a single game played over four quarters that traditionally opens the new basketball season.
